Process for the production of polymers containing ammonium groups

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for the production of polymers containing ammonium groups in which OH-functional polymers are first reacted with isocyanates corresponding to general formula I OCN--R--CH.sub.2 --X I in which R represents C 2-11 alkylene or arylene and X represents halogen, to form urethanes and the urethanes are subsequently reacted with tertiary aliphatic amines corresponding to formula II ##STR1## in which R 1 to R 3 may be the same or different.

We claim: 
     
       1. Process for the production of a polymer containing quaternary ammonium groups, which comprises reacting, at a temperature from about 0° to 120° C., a solution or dispersion of a polymer containing --OH groups with an isocyanate of the formula   OCN--R--CH.sub.2 --X     in which   R is C 1-11  -alkylene or arylene, and   X is halogen, thereby to form a urethane, the molar ratio of OH to isocyanate ranging from about 1:0.1 to 1:100, and reacting the urethane with a tertiary amine of the formula ##STR4## in which R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  each independently is C 1-8  -alkyl, C 5-6  -cycloalkyl, C 2-6  -hydroxyalkyl, C 2-4  -cyanoalkyl, C 3-8  -alkenyl or C 7-8  -aralkyl, or     R 1  and R 2 , together with the N atom, form a 3- to 6-membered ring.   
     
     
       2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyacrylates produced using OH-functional monomers, starch, dextrins, glycogen, polyglycosans, cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl hydroxypropyl cellulose, sulfoethyl cellulose, sulfoethyl carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl sulfoethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl sulfoethyl cellulose, dihydroxypropyl cellulose, dihydroxypropyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, dihydroxypropyl carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose and esters and salts thereof, carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, cellulose sulfate, polyfructosans, hemicelluloses, polyxylosans, polyarabosans, gellan, xanthan and pullulan, X is chlorine or bromine, and   R is C 1  -C 7  -alkylene.   
     
     
       3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose and starch, X is chlorine, and   R is methylene or pentylene.